Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-04-21
CAsEY,S CASE.
He Asks for a Reduction of Bail-Ths
IaiI-Rraa king Enisnda

Jail-Breaking Episode.
Yesterday in Department Two of the Su-
perior Court 7. C. Casey, who is lodged in
the county Jail awaiting trial for burglar
izing rooms at the Golden Eagle Hotel last
State-Fair time, moved through his coun.
sci, Grove l.. Johnson, for reduction Of
his bail, which is at present $4,000 in each
ney Bruner objected to the reduction, on
the ground that Casey had been to some
extent connected with the recent Jail break
ing of Cox and Van Kleek, the report be-
ing that he and others not only knew of
the intention of those men to escape, but
that there was scheme on foot for several
to take French leave, after doing up''
Jailer Blair. For this reason Sheriff Drew
ordered Casey into close confinement.
That some information upon this head
might be obtained, several witnesses were
sworn at yesterdays hearing. Casey was
the first, He emphatically denied having
known anything about the intention of
Cox and Van Kleek to escape, or of the in
tent of any others to do so. He declared
that he had never desired to make such an
effort himself but if he had he could have
got out long ago, as opportunities had been
eve, when George Craw, who was acting as
Jail er, got helplessly drunk and left the
door of the Jail and the Sheriff's office un-
locked. Casey alleges that he aroused the
drunken man and assisted him 10 lock up.
He said he had letter from Van Kieek,
written since the latter's recapture, in
which he Casey wBs asked not TO believe
everything he heard relative to the escape
and that Van Kleek would tell the facts
! and exonerate Casey if called upon to tes-
tify.
Sheriff Drew testified that he had ordered
| Casey into close confinement on hearing
| the reports relative to his completely in
the escapes. He got his information con-
corning the alleged conspiracy from
Deputy Sheriff Lee, who told him that he
heard it from B. U. Steinman. The
Sheriff said that only few days ago Cox
had sent for him and said that there was
talk OF another escape. Cox claimed to
have heard Casey, Bennett and Others
plotting together, and they were to 20 do
up" Deputy Sheriff Connors some night
and flee. Another plot was to lock
Deputy Sheriff Blair in a cell when he
was on watch. The Sheriff admitted that
Casey had been model prisoner.
Cox was brought into Court and put
| upon the stand. His testimony was direct
| that Casey had not any knowledge of his
(Cox's) intention to escape. Witness stated
that he had not participated in the CONVEX
! sation he had spoken to Sheriff Drew
about, but Bennett, Van Kleek and others
had
Deputy Sheriff Connors' testimony was
to the effect that Casey did not associate
with Bennett and the others mentioned.
Mr.. Johnson asked that Messrs. Lee and
Steinman be brought into Court, that it
might be ascertained from whom their in
| formation was obtained, but the Court
thought it unnecessary. There appeared
to be no evidence establishing that Casey
had anything to do whatever with the Jail
breaking, but citizens had acted properly
in giving the Sheriff the benefit of any in
formation they had, and the Sheriff was
right, under the circumstances, in guard
ing Casey carefully. The Court intimated
Its intention of considering the matter of
the motion for reduction of bail outside
of any relation to the escapes, and only
upon the basis of the testimony taken at
the preliminary examination, and would
| hold the subject under Amusement pending
a study of that testimony.